Outlawed: Responding to Sovereign Citizens and the Global Rise of Legal Conspiracies

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Harry Hobbs Stephen Young

Outlawed

Name: Outlawed
Price: 36.99 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9781761621741

Responding to Sovereign Citizens and the Global Rise of Legal Conspiracies

Harry Hobbs, Stephen Young

$36.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

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English

Penguin Random House Australia
18 August 2026

Prose: non-fiction

Bringing the stories and characters of the sovereign citizen and conspiracy movements to life, Outlawed, explains the origin of these trends, why they are destructive, and offers both diagnosis and response.

Outlawed explores one of the most dangerous and misunderstood movements of our time- the global rise of pseudolaw and sovereign citizen ideology. Sharp, empathetic and unsettling, Outlawed asks a vital question- if so many people are turning to fake law in search of justice, what has gone wrong with the real thing? Outlawed traces the hidden connective tissue between courtroom theatrics, viral traffic stop videos, fraudulent ""common law"" courts, and acts of deadly extremism. From unhappy New Zealand ratepayers to North American farm foreclosures to Australian pandemic protests, from German coup plots to suburban family courts, Outlawed reveals how legal conspiracy theories spread, mutate, and radicalise ordinary people. Blending true crime, investigative reporting, legal analysis and cultural critique, Outlawed shows that pseudolaw is not fringe. It is a commodity sold by charismatic gurus. It is a performance staged for online audiences. And it is a symptom of a deeper crisis- collapsing trust in law, democracy and institutions. The stories revealed are both bizarre and consequential. Pseudolaw has migrated from the fringes to the mainstream, spreading online alongside conspiracy theories, wellness grifts, and populist discontent. It must be understood to be stopped.

By: Harry Hobbs, Stephen Young
Imprint: Penguin Random House Australia
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 1mm, Width: 1mm,
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9781761621741
ISBN 10: 1761621742
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 18 August 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Harry Hobbs (Author) Dr Harry Hobbs is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law and Justice at the University of New South Wales. The author of four books and more than 60 journal articles, Harry is a multiple award-winning scholar with broad and diverse research interests ranging from constitutional law and the rights of Indigenous peoples, to micronations and sovereign citizens. A clear and accessible communicator, Harry has written widely in popular media, including articles for Guardian Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, alongside the NewSouth book How To Rule Your Own Country (2022). Harry is regularly invited to discuss his scholarship on TV, radio and in print media. Stephen Young (Author) Dr Stephen Young is an Associate Professor at the University of Otago's Faculty of Law (Te Kaupeka Tatai Ture, Otakou Whakaihu Waka), who brings together rigorous research and relatable public engagement. His 2020 book Indigenous Peoples, Consent and Rights- Troubling Subjects earned him the Law Society of Australia and New Zealand's Early Career Research Award. In 2023, he was further honoured with the University of Otago Early Career Award for Distinction in Research. He has published another book, an edited volume, special issues of journals, numerous book chapters, journal articles, blog posts and other commentaries. Beyond the academy, he is adept at speaking across diverse audiences, from academic book launches to the general public. His media presence includes engagements through newsprint, radio, and television (specifically for commentary on pseudolaw and sovereign-citizen phenomena in Aotearoa), highlighting his ability to translate complex legal ideas into accessible, impactful narratives across multiple platforms. He specialises in Indigenous peoples and the law, human rights, and the troubling rise of sovereign citizen pseudolaw.